NBA combine 5 on 5

[CRAZIE4LIFE]

Don't know if many of you seen it on espn today, but Quinn was playing and doing well, there were some good things being said about him, I really hope he gets a shot and can make a team. When you see a player like Matt Delladova do so well for the Cavs, it makes you think a guy like Quinn would have a chance.

 

[germantondevil]

Watched him this morning also. Just caught the 2nd half but they were down 8 or 9 points down the stretch. He played big. Hit a three, all his free throws down the stretch and a big steal to lead to an easy runout and layup. I think he scored either 7 or 9 pts to help his team come back and win in the last few minutes. Do not know how many he had for the game.

 

[Tim1515]

He can handle the ball against pressure...hits 3s and foul shots. I think he will end up on an NBA roster even if he isn't drafted. The only thing that will hold him back is size/strength at a position that is getting more and more athletic.

 

[dukedevilz]

I'm not sure I'll ever understand the talent evaluations for the NBA. There are certainly guys that stand out every year, but once you get away from the top 20-30 guys, what makes someone draftable? Quinn isn't given much of a chance due to his size - but we all know QC can shoot lights out and the league always needs shooters... another ACC guy that isn't on anybody's mock drafts is Pat Connaughton. How is that possible? He recorded the second-highest vertical in combine history (44 inches), he shot over 42% from 3, averaged 7.4 boards, great slasher. I will admit that I haven't watched him too extensively on defense, so perhaps that is a liability. Idk, I just don't get NBA evaluations.

 

[LastWaltz]

Connaughton has a mid 90's fastball and was a 3rd round selection of Baltimore. He played the 4 in college which is not happening in the NBA. He is not big enough to play the 3 and has never really played at the 2 so if you are an NBA team what is the attraction. Same with Quinn. He is a very nice player but played much better as a 2 this year and he can't guard that in the NBA. There are so few open roster spots on these teams that they would rather go with someone who has tremendous upside or a veteran that they know what they are getting.

 

[dukedevilz]

It's not like he can't shoot and that's what shooting guards do. He was the 4 at Notre Dame, but that was in a four-guard offense. He also told NBA Executives that he plans to take basketball as far as he can - he wants to play basketball over baseball if there are opportunities.

 

[LastWaltz]

There are a lot of guys that can shoot, more to getting drafted than that. There are college players much better than Connaughton or Quinn that won't make teams/get drafted. It's supply and demand.

 

[2 skerz 3]

There are a lot of guys that can shoot, more to getting drafted than that. There are college players much better than Connaughton or Quinn that won't make teams/get drafted. It's supply and demand.

Sounds like this was what was said when JJ left Duke. Now he's playing 40+ minutes in game 7's.

 

[DukeDenver]

Connaughton can't dribble well enough to be an NBA guard, he'd have to be a SF. If he improves his handles, he'd be very interesting at the 2, but I think he's too clumsy for that transition. He is slow to make decisions with the ball in his hands. He could be a useful energy guy, like a better shooting Jae Crowder, but he's an inch shorter than even the short SFs of the league. Most of those guys are 6'7 or 6'9.

 

[LastWaltz]

Well that's just silly. JJ was possibly the best shooter ever to play in college. JJ was used to shooting off curls, fades, pull ups, etc. while being double and triple teamed. Connaughton was a spot up shooter that benefited greatly from playing in a spread and kick offense while being guarded by college 4's. Again, who is he guarding in the NBA. At 6'5'' he needs to guard a 2 while playing the 2. There are just much better options for teams. Throw in the fact he has a millions waiting for him in Baltimore vs the $35k the D-league provides and he isn't an attractive option in the second round.

 

[denniden]

Connaughton can't dribble well enough to be an NBA guard, he'd have to be a SF. If he improves his handles, he'd be very interesting at the 2, but I think he's too clumsy for that transition. He is slow to make decisions with the ball in his hands. He could be a useful energy guy, like a better shooting Jae Crowder, but he's an inch shorter than even the short SFs of the league. Most of those guys are 6'7 or 6'9.

The NBA is going smaller every year. There are many spread offenses being used now. Connaughton may not have the vertical size, but he is strong and isn't going to be a guy who is asked to lock down the other teans better scorers all game. Guys who can shoot and have athletic ability are being utilized in the NBA. Pat will never be asked to be a 40 minute a game guy, or even the main option on offense, but there is a spot for him on just about every roster. Plenty of teams have guys who park in the corners and just shoot threes. (check out the analytics the league uses) Connaughton can make that corner three at a high level. He also rebounds very well.

He is going to be given a chance. Anyone who says he won't or shouldn't is not paying much attention to the pro game.

 

[dukedevilz]

I'm not an NBA Scout and I haven't analyzed his game from cover to cover, but to me, he honestly looks like NBA material. Perhaps he isn't that great of a ball handler, I can't really say one way or the other. But I do know that he shoots really well, he rebounds well, boxes out extraordinarily well, slashes, jumps out of the gym, and he doesn't turn the ball over. He did an excellent job at guarding Trey Lyles in the elite 8 so I don't see why he couldn't guard a 3 in the NBA - or a 2 for that matter, because it's not as though he's lacking athleticism. To me, he's what I expect Grayson Allen to look like in a year or two. I think Allen will probably be a better scorer and Connaughton will probably be a better rebounder, but I think they do have similar styles.

 

[ioliva]

There are a lot of guys that can shoot, more to getting drafted than that. There are college players much better than Connaughton or Quinn that won't make teams/get drafted. It's supply and demand.

Strictly speaking college wise there were not a lot of guys better than quinn cook last year

 

[skysdad]

There are a lot of guys in the NBA that personally I had never heard of or knew very little about during their college careers. There a ton of big name can't miss players that just plain out missed big time. As far as Quinn goes if he gets a shot he will do everything possible to make it. Not many will play harder. He has IMO a good shot of making a roster. As far as Duke players go ow many of us here at DI thought Lance, Dantay or Shavlick would have stuck around as long as they have. OFC

 

[2 skerz 3]

Well that's just silly. JJ was possibly the best shooter ever to play in college. JJ was used to shooting off curls, fades, pull ups, etc. while being double and triple teamed. Connaughton was a spot up shooter that benefited greatly from playing in a spread and kick offense while being guarded by college 4's. Again, who is he guarding in the NBA. At 6'5'' he needs to guard a 2 while playing the 2. There are just much better options for teams. Throw in the fact he has a millions waiting for him in Baltimore vs the $35k the D-league provides and he isn't an attractive option in the second round.

You make a good point about the baseball route but I will never fall victim to the thinking a player can't play because he's too small or he doesn't have a position. Last night Golden State played good portions of game 1 with the tallest player on the floor standing at 6'8. Steph Curry couldn't make it cause he was too small, JJ couldn't make it because he couldn't guard the 2 spot, etc.

 

[denniden]

You make a good point about the baseball route but I will never fall victim to the thinking a player can't play because he's too small or he doesn't have a position. Last night Golden State played good portions of game 1 with the tallest player on the floor standing at 6'8. Steph Curry couldn't make it cause he was too small, JJ couldn't make it because he couldn't guard the 2 spot, etc.

Golden St, had the best record in the league this year, while playing with that lineup, a lot. Teams go to the spread offense more and more, which means going smaller and attacking from the wings.

 

[DukeDenver]

Golden St, had the best record in the league this year, while playing with that lineup, a lot. Teams go to the spread offense more and more, which means going smaller and attacking from the wings.

That's the exception rather than the rule in the NBA, IMO. You can only win with a 4 guard lineup if you have guards like Golden State. They're the only team out there with that kind of shooting ability. They don't need to go for offensive rebounds at all outside of Draymond, and they can respond to a scoring post player by hitting 3's at almost the same rate.

 

[2 skerz 3]

Golden St, had the best record in the league this year, while playing with that lineup, a lot. Teams go to the spread offense more and more, which means going smaller and attacking from the wings.

Exactly and more and more teams are transitioning to that style of basketball throughout the league.

 

[dukehokie]

The NBA is really becoming a positionless league. And with that style of play, you need more specialists than you do guys who might fit a height description. So when you look at it, the draft is all about getting guys who can become something. That's the potential mark. From there, you draft or sign specialists.

I think Quinn will get some summer league looks. If he can knock his shots down as he did this past season, he'll garner some attention.

It's a shame Seth hasn't caught on yet. I still think his time will come, but he's been bouncing around a lot between D League and THE League.